15 Boat Tours in New Orleans That Repay the Ticket

1.New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Jazz Cruise with Dinner Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 7,533 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $58Our pick

Board the Steamboat NATCHEZ at Toulouse Street Wharf for a three-hour evening experience, including one hour dockside and a two-hour Mississippi cruise. Hear the calliope, explore the engine room, enjoy live jazz from the Dukes of Dixieland or another New Orleans jazz group, and add a Louisiana-style buffet with gumbo, crawfish étouffée, fried chicken, and bread pudding.

“Incredible time with friends. The food was really good and plentiful. The service was exceptional. The jazz musicians were really good and the calliope at the beginning was fun. The ride was so smooth you forgot you were on a boat.”

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2.New Orleans Swamp and Bayou Boat Tour with Transportation

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5,399 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $70Top rated

Ride from the French Quarter to Honey Island Swamp for a two-hour boat trip through narrow waterways and thick foliage. A local captain points out alligators, raccoons, birds, snakes, and other wildlife, while explaining Cajun life and wetland preservation. Boats hold up to 22 people, and guides such as Steve, Scottie, Marc, and Jody are known for lively, attentive commentary.

“Not what we expected. The company is very big and there are several boats in the same stretch of water at the same time. The “wildlife” is actually domesticated by the food offered by the captains to attract them to the boats to please the tourists and we’ve been constantly “reminded” to leave five star-reviews and tips in a way that made us feel uncomfortable. I had a very different and more authentic experience years ago with a small tour operated by a Cajun family.”

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3.New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Jazz Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 5,334 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $43

Board the Steamboat Natchez at Toulouse Street Wharf for a roughly two-hour paddlewheel cruise on the Mississippi. You’ll hear live jazz from the Steamboat Stompers, listen to commentary about New Orleans and the Battle of New Orleans, and pass the Chalmette Battlefield. Add the Southern-style buffet lunch if you want a full meal on board.

“Good time with a nice meal. Very informative while on the river and the band was great to listen to.”

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4.Evening Steamboat Jazz Cruise + Optional Dinner

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 4,548 reviews · 2 hours · from $58

Board at 6 p.m. for a 7 to 9 p.m. cruise from the French Quarter. You’ll hear live jazz from the Grammy-nominated Dukes of Dixieland, listen to a captain’s narration, explore four decks, and see New Orleans from the Mississippi. Add the Creole buffet if you want dinner onboard. The Riverboat CITY of NEW ORLEANS currently replaces the NATCHEZ on evening cruises.

“Loved this trip.. very informative , loved hearing all the history along the river and views on night were spectacular. Band were amazing too!”

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5.Daytime Steamboat Jazz Cruise + Optional Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 4,164 reviews · 2 hours · from $43

Spend two hours aboard the Riverboat CITY of NEW ORLEANS, currently filling in for the Steamboat NATCHEZ. Hear the Steamboat Stompers, listen to live narration, inspect the paddle wheel and engine room, and move between four decks. Add a plated Creole lunch with catfish, red beans and rice, jambalaya, spoon bread, and bread pudding.

“This was so much fun! My wife and I took our niece for the lunchtime riverboat cruise, and we have a wonderful time. The weather was perfect, and the jazz band was excellent. Lunch was traditional NOLA style, fried catfish, red beans and rice, and bread pudding. Highly recommend!”

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6.Swamp Boat Ride and Oak Alley Plantation Tour from New Orleans

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,303 reviews · 7 hours 45 minutes (approx.) · from $131

Travel by air-conditioned coach from the French Quarter to Oak Alley or Destrehan Plantation, then cruise Manchac Swamp on a covered pontoon boat. Local guides such as Dionne, Jane, Tom, and Captain Justin have led especially engaging tours, with alligators, raccoons, wild hogs, turtles, snakes, and birds possible along the way.

“The swamp trip was amazing. We saw so many alligators! I was surprised this late in the year. The scenery was also amazing.m! I will say though that I’m not a fan of feeding the wildlife. The tour to the plantation was good but if I could do it again, I wouldn’t go on a school day. Pirate Nation had a ton of kids there broken into groups of about 10 each and spread out across all the exhibits. The kids were just being kids but there was no escape and it did take away from the solemnity of the slave quarters and the quiet that you felt should be…”

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7.New Orleans Self-Transport Swamp and Bayou Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,824 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $37

Drive yourself to Slidell for a two-hour Honey Island Swamp cruise on a quiet, open-air boat carrying up to 22 people. Guides such as Jody, Emmett, Dustin, and Wade G. explain Cajun culture, wetland ecology, and local wildlife while you look for alligators, raccoons, wild boar, turtles, snakes, and birds. The boat returns to the same meeting point.

“Great tour on a beautiful area with a great guide. Jacob was very friendly and knowledgeable about the area and the wildlife. Highly recommend this tour.”

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8.Paddlewheeler Creole Queen Historic Mississippi River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,948 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $47

Spend about two and a half hours aboard the Paddlewheeler Creole Queen, cruising from downtown New Orleans to Chalmette Battlefield and back. Guides such as Charles, Dr. Lauren, and Dr. Tarantino have earned praise for lively storytelling about the LeMoyne brothers, Hurricane Katrina, and the Battle of New Orleans. Lunch and drinks cost extra.

“The food was excellent, especially the whiskey glazed bread pudding. The narrator, Charles was mesmerizing!! The Battlefield Tour was good. Everything was perfect, even the weather!”

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9.New Orleans Swamp Tour Boat Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,855 reviews · 1 hour 40 minutes (approx.) · from $35Best value

Leave Marrero aboard a covered swamp boat for a 1-hour-40-minute ride through Barataria’s wetlands. Captains such as Ernie and Dewey mix local history, Cajun culture, humor, and wildlife spotting. You may see alligators, turtles, snakes, and birds, and seasonal conditions may allow you to hold a baby alligator.

“Plan for the weather. If seeing American Alligators is your sole reason for the tour. Then seek another trip. We only saw 1 small 3 footer , the Guide/Captain was knowledgeable and we had an overall great experience.”

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10.New Orleans Manchac Bayou Swamp Cruise W/ Optional Pick-Up

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,587 reviews · 1h 30m · from $35

Take a 90-minute pontoon cruise through Manchac Bayou with a local captain. Expect moss-draped cypress trees, birds, raccoons, wild hogs, turtles, and a chance of seeing alligators. Captains such as Danny, Dustin, Tom, and Brandon are known for lively stories about Cajun life, Frenier, wetlands, and Louisiana wildlife. Hotel pickup is optional.

“Amazing experience. My only recommendation, if you're planning to go on this tour, is to book your transportation from New Orleans in advance. Uber/Lyft has a hard time getting to this area.”

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11.Paddlewheeler Creole Queen Jazz Dinner Cruise in New Orleans

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,469 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $107

Spend about two hours on the Mississippi aboard the paddlewheel Creole Queen. The evening includes live jazz, a promenade deck, and an optional Creole buffet with gumbo, jambalaya, red beans and rice, seafood pasta, brisket, and bread pudding. Boarding begins at 6:30 p.m. for a prompt 7 p.m. departure from 1 Poydras Street.

“Very nice, food was good, service good, music good, we enjoyed it very much.. We walked on deck seen many ships /boats, the bridge that crossed the river was lit up with red and green very nice! Good float!”

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12.Creole Queen History Cruise with Optional Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 1,112 reviews · 2h 30m · from $47

Ride the paddlewheeler Creole Queen from the Riverwalk to Chalmette Battlefield. An English-speaking guide such as Charles or Dr. Lauren covers New Orleans, the Mississippi, the Battle of New Orleans, and Hurricane Katrina. Add the buffet lunch for Creole dishes, then join a National Park Ranger ashore.

“Totally fabulous experience. Commentary given by the tour guide, Charles, was the best I have ever had. Food was delicious and a real authentic experience of New Orleans cuisine. Drinks were reasonable, with no queuing. Battlefield tour guide was knowledgeable. This experience is highly recommended. Perfect few hours.”

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13.Evening Jazz Boat Cruise with Optional Dinner

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 1,024 reviews · 2 hours · from $60

Spend two hours aboard the Paddlewheeler Creole Queen, listening to Sullivan Dabney Jr. and the Muzik Jazz Band while New Orleans slips past. Choose the dinner option for a Creole buffet, then dance, order a cocktail, and watch Jackson Square and the lit bridges from the river. Boarding begins at 6:00 PM at the Poydras Street Dock.

“wonderful staff...great food .. awesome music...just an amazing experience”

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14.Guided Swamp Cruise by Tour Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 570 reviews · 100 minutes - 4 hours · from $35

Leave the French Quarter for a 100-minute cruise through Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. A local captain such as Ernie, Dewey, or Bebop explains swamp ecology, Cajun life, and alligator behavior while you watch for gators, raccoons, turtles, snakes, and birds. Hotel pickup is optional.

“Our guide Ernie was amazing! He knows so much about the area and has a fantastic sense of humor. As well, the breeze was so relaxing.”

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15.Sunday Steamboat Jazz Cruise + Optional Brunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 470 reviews · 2 hours · from $43

Spend two hours aboard the Riverboat CITY of NEW ORLEANS, or the returning Steamboat NATCHEZ on select dates, with live jazz, captain’s narration, river views, and full-service bars. Add the Creole brunch for gumbo, shrimp and grits, cinnamon rolls, king cake, and other Louisiana favorites.

“The ship was beautiful and the food was very good. We loved being able to just watch the scenery go by and learn about the great Mississippi River. All while listening to awesome jazz. Totally recommend!!”

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